Intrepid Bebe Asks: Emma Losing Sleep

I love other people’s stories, it one of the best bits about this blogging experience so far. As much as I enjoy sharing my thoughts, feelings and opinions, I truly love hearing other peoples. Getting an insight into you lives, your histories, your experiences or just what you got up to today. I doubt I need to tell you that Motherhood can be lonely at times. As a stay at home mum (who rarely actually stays at home as Intrepid bebe climbs the walls), husband working long hours, and who has just moved across the globe to a town I don’t know anyone, well it can make for a bit of a lonely situation (worlds smallest violin playing just for me right now). And although I am so lucky to have friends here I am able to catch up with in person, and friends back in Oz (who I really miss) at the end of Whatsapp, conversations are so frequently punctuated/completely hijacked by bambinos on either end, I rarely feel a story gets finished, or a conversation gets seen through. So sit down at the end of the day, with a glass of wine and really focus on someone else’s story is a joy.

So i thought I would embrace my inner Jeremy Paxman (I have been referred to as the Spanish inquisition in the past for shooting endless quickfire questions, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t intended as a compliment as it was from a bitter ex boyfriend….).

For the first of the “Intrepid Bebe Asks” series, may I introduce @emmalosingsleep aka Emma. Mum to two beautiful boys, and a professional Interior Designer. Emma and I first met as teenagers, and highlights of that time include package holidays to Turkey, and house parties when my parents were out of town. We hadn’t seen one another in a decade and a half but recently reconnected. With stylish Mum bun, slick of red lipstick, and cool calm and collected aura which implies nothing phases her, you could be forgiven for thinking Emma is one of those intimidating ‘got all my duck in a row’ Mums. But she’s open, honest, and not afraid to call a spade a spade. You know a woman needs to be part of your mum tribe when she calls bullshit on the whole “isn’t this all just wonderful’ stuff before your coffee’s had a chance to get cold, and doesn’t look mortified when you mention contemplating Ebaying your kid. (it is wonderful lots of the time, and I won’t actually Ebay her-this week). She may claim writing doesn’t come naturally to her, but I beg to differ as her blog is heartfelt, relatable and reads like you’re chatting in person over a coffee.

She’s new to blogging, so swing by and check out her site: Losing Sleep, and follow her on IG for her daily dose of deadpan, straight shooting mum insight. Meet Emma

Hi Emma, welcome to Intrepid Bebe! For those of you who don’t know already, could you tell us a bit about your family?

At last count there was myself Emma, you will know who I am by the shopping bags under my eyes and red lippy to cover the cracks. Husband Chris repartees consists of hard working, play fighting and general mess maker. Grayson 3 year old and tyrant. Jude 7 months going on 7 years and sleep depriver.

What made you begin your blogging/IG journey, and what do you hope to produce/gain from it?

For me blogging was going to be a way of processing my thoughts and feelings, and hopefully creating a little cyber family of mum friends who like me find the interaction refreshing and reassuring. For me it was the obvious extension to my life on Instagram which I really enjoy.

Did you have pretty good tech skills or is it a sharp learning curve? And what about your photography, do you tend to include professional photos or are you a bit of a pro yourself?

The blogging is definitely a steep learning curve for me, I don’t find writing an easy process I do not feel very natural at it so I find what I write really is a straight forward thoughts to paper process. It is something I do need to evolve. Practice makes perfect right so the more I write hopefully the better I will get. Available time when you have kids is difficult it has been so easy to keep putting things off but I am trying to make time whenever I can to do this, it is for me and I have finally learnt 3 years after my eldest child was born how important me time is! I really enjoy photography it has never been professional for me everything you see on Instagram is just my eye and an Iphone, I like the simplicity of Instagram that as the name states it is instant so you can really get a good snap shot of peoples lives and loves.

Outside of being a Mama, what is/was your day job?

When I am not cleaning up snot and poop I am by profession an Interior Designer. Currently on maternity leave with my baby and trying to negotiate the mum/full time worker balance and if it is even possible!

How has becoming a Mother changed you?

Apart from making me a pasty, babbling zombie it has also made me a tougher no bullshit super human. Stronger mentally than I thought I could ever be and that is amazing. Not so amazing is my new inability to be on time!

What do you hope @emmalosingsleep will give its followers?

Someone to relate to, someone to start up a conversation with. Hopefully like many other blogs I have followed make others feel relaxed and happy that they are not the only one feeling the way they are felling.

Do you worry about the risk of feel exposed or over sharing, be that with insights into your personal life or family photos?

Of course but that is a decision I have made, I feel as a family we are relatively ‘normal’ and I think people will relate. Do I worry that I share too many images of my children? Yes, but asides from them being available for the public to view they are also a continual photo album for friends and family. @emmaosingsleep blog is new at some point I may write something that others do not agree with that is a possibility, I would like to think that whatever occurs can be discussed (this is one of the reasons I started the blog to initiate conversation) however there is always a block button if needed!

Where is your perfect spot to work/blog from?

At the moment it is the good old sofa whilst kids are napping or engrossed in a pixar movie (mummy’s favourite babysitter).

Where would you like to be in five years?

If you had asked me before kids five years would have seemed like such a long time but now I know that five years will go in a flash therefore I will be very realistic with my response…In five years I would be still blogging, still Instagramming, hopefully have a small business set up with my family at the fore front, in fact I WILL! and probably up to my eye balls in PTA and the such like. So not much then…

What advice would you give to a brand new Mama? And a new Dad?

Take it as it comes, don’t think too far ahead because the ahead comes too quickly and you miss the moment you are in. Go with your gut, you know your kid more than any one will, whatever works for you and them. The rest just falls into place, don’t force it.

Most useless bit of advice you’ve been given?

Probably the worst one that I have been told many a time which is probably high up there on most parents lists is; Sleep when the baby sleeps. Excuse my language but PISS OFF. Never gonna happen unless those lovely advice giving folks would like to come round and take care of the house hold chores whilst I am sleeping.

What’s three accounts you enjoy following that we should take a look at?

One of my favourites is @nor_folk Husband and Wife duo, love their style and there products. Fiona seems like a lovely gal based on the interaction I have had with her, good business ethos. Check them out!

Everyone has to love a bit of @mother_pukka where they hell does she get her energy from? She never stops. Pretty damn motivational.

Also @susiejverrill and her little chap Milo. Straight forward, to the point, don’t take no shit mother.

Holiday or home?

Holiday definitely, I need one desperately. Sun, sea and R&R. All day, any day. But a little bit of home in between.

Favourite trip pre kids?

To be very honest the best trips myself and hubby has before kids were cheap out of season caravan stay-cations, when the resorts were cold and empty of all other people except for us. Torrential rain, fish and chips washed down with ridiculous amounts of wine and rum. No luxury or pampering but bloody memorable and fun.

Favourite family holiday?

Favourite holiday so far would have to be a trip to a little ocean town called Bar Harbour in Maine US. We went for a wedding and loved every single second I really didn’t want to leave, such a lovely family friendly place. Ocean breeze on your face every day. We flew to Boston and drove 4 hours or so to Bar Harbour, with a baby it seemed like a crazy thing to do but I would do it again in an instant.

Childhood holiday memory?

I spent a lot of time with my grandmother growing up and we would spend most if not all of the summer holidays away. Most of the six weeks would be taken up with a mixture of Devon, Yorkshire, Holland plus another Europe based destination of her choosing we had family and or friends in every location. Plus a week or two spent with my dad at my grandparent caravan in Wittering (weirdly my husbands grandparent had a caravan in the same park but we don’t remember each other!) so I cant really pinpoint a specific memory because they were all pretty damn good.

Dream travel destination?

There are so many, it is hard to pick just one. Without kids I would love to do a sleeper train holiday for a few weeks just travelling all over the place with the hubby. Getting lost in my ‘Poirot Murder on the Orient Express’ fantasy but hopefully without the murder and with lots of gorgeous food, drink and people.